By CAITLIN MULLEN - Daily Chronicle
Volunteers in Genoa literally painted the town red Saturday.

And blue, green and tan.

The painting effort was aimed at sprucing up the city's downtown businesses and restaurants. The project was organized by Main Street Genoa Inc., a group of residents working to renovate and maintain the city's downtown.

About 40 volunteers set up dropcloths and ladders in front of businesses such as Miedema Fine Jewelers, Poppy Seed Primitives and State Farm Insurance.

"The wood soaks it up, and the sun dries it," Gordon Jones, 67, of Genoa said as volunteers painted the buildings' facades.

For the past six years, an annual donation of $2,000 from local contractor Briody Enterprises has been used to repaint one business in the city per year. This year, Main Street Genoa wanted to spread the donation over as many downtown buildings as possible, Main Street Genoa Executive Director Mim Evans said Friday.

"You think you might not have the resources for such a project," she said. "But then word went out, and we got this huge response. Now we can do more than we originally planned."

The occupants of all 35 downtown buildings were invited to take part in the project, Evans said, and 11 of the buildings received a fresh coat of paint. Sherwin-Williams of DeKalb donated additional paint for the project, bringing the total to about 40 gallons, Briody Enterprises supervisor Luke Allison said Friday.

Allison and other professionals were on hand over the weekend to oversee the painting and advise less-experienced volunteers.

"I'm amazed with how many people turned out for this," Allison said. "Given this economy right now, this effort saves us money, and it helps bring better visuals to the downtown."

A Springfield coordinator who specializes in small town main street projects advised the committee to stay true to Genoa's individuality, Diane Helland, 65, of Genoa said.

"He said Genoa is unique because each building is so different," she said.

Helland volunteered for the project with her husband, Jerry, 80, and the couple's children, Mark and Melissa. Jerry and Mark have painted around the house, but never professionally, Jerry Helland said.

"You could call us experienced amateurs," Mark Helland said.

Diane and Melissa Helland helped paint Genoa Cafe royal blue, while a few doors down, Jerry and Mark Helland helped paint Family Hair Care crimson.

"It's all about variety," Jerry Helland said.

Brian Wilson, 26, of Genoa has been painting for 10 years, and he started his own painting company, AM Enterprises, last year.

"I like painting. It's one of the trades where it always looks good when you're done," he said.

Wilson admires the colorful ornamental trim that decorates many of Genoa's downtown buildings, he said.

"I wanted to be able to point to some of the buildings downtown and say, 'I painted that,'" he said.

Painters of all levels of experience volunteered for the project Saturday. Many made conversation and laughed as they worked. Others painted quietly, making careful brush strokes on each section of the business front.

Paul Ortman, 53, of Kirkland learned about the project through a newsletter from St. Catherine's Church.

"I've been here all week doing priming," he said.

Evans said the group originally planned to paint just the trim and front doors of each building, but with the donated paint, they were able to fully paint every business that chose to participate.

Donna Butler, 59, of Cortland, works at the Edward Jones office in downtown Genoa. She manned a table with food and drinks provided by local businesses for the volunteers. "This is where I spend 40 hours a week, so why not help here?" she said.

Reporter Benji Feldheim contributed to this story.
 

That’s What We Think, Too!!

Genoa Library Donation

Briody Enterprises, Inc. and a host of other local businesses in Genoa were recent donators to the Genoa Public Library's 2007 six week summer reading program, "Mission Read".  One hundred children participated in the summer program where the goal for children who read was to read as many books as possible and for younger children not able to read on their own had parents or older siblings read to them to earn food coupons, gift cards to book stores, etc.  Every child received a reward for their participation and the number of participants was up this year - that's good to hear!

Briody Enterprises knows the value of reading... did you know when you open a book for your child and share it in reading you're giving shape and dimension to the routine events of everyday life, helping your child develop a sense of imagination and making unexpected discoveries.  Reading is a multi-faceted experience that can bond generations.

Briody Enterprises supports many other community organizations such as these like the public library, the Genoa-Kingston Food Pantry, G-K Booster Club, etc. as a contributor and supporter of these valuable community programs.

Briody Enterprises has been a local builder in Genoa for the past 25 years - building quality homes and helping "build and develop" the community through local support.

Briody Enterprises prides itself on being a semi-custom, quality builder – buyer's can exercise the opportunity to move walls, windows, expand…let us know what changes are requested and we will make them happen permitting there will be no compromise of set backs, etc.

Please contact us at 815-784-3040 for more information about Briody Enterprises and the wonderful things we have to offer YOU!

Riverbend Unit Six - OPENING SOON!!

The final phase of the Riverbend Subdivision will be opening soon! Don't miss your chance to build the home of your dreams in the quaint yet sophisticated town of Genoa.

Briody Enterprises prides itself on being a semi-custom, quality builder – you can exercise the opportunity to move walls, windows, expand... you let us know what changes you want made and we will make it happen permitting there will be no compromise of set backs, etc.

The water/sewer lines are in and the curbs have been poured in Unit Six, just waiting for you to choose. You will have your choice of interior lots, corner lots or lots that overlook one of the tranquil ponds in the subdivision.

There are still lots available in Unit Four of the Senior Enclave too – a great age 55 + area of homes... your choice of floor plan, 2 or 3 bedrooms including full 9' basement foundations, a real plus if you decide to finish your basement.

Please give us a call and let us know what home style you are looking for as we have something for everyone – from 2 bedroom Bungalows, 2 or 3 bedroom Detached Town Homes, Senior Enclave and Single Family homes…we have home styles to meet every buyers needs. Call 815-784-3040…you'll be glad you did!
 

Briody Enterprises
Prairie Ridge Pointe, LLC

Make sure you watch for the progress being made at the Prairie Ridge Pointe commercial development, ½ mile south of Route 72 on Route 23, where there was a ground breaking held on June 22, 2007 for the Prairie Ridge Pointe Center, the site of a 15,585 Sq. Ft. retail center in Genoa, IL.

The new project spearheads planned developments in the Prairie Ridge Pointe Business Park that include construction of a new Ace Hardware Store and community bank. Construction has already begun and is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007.

For more information please call 815-784-3040.
 

Genoa-Kingston Food pantry aided by Briody and friends

March 3, 2007
By Marian Collins SPECIAL TO THE COURIER NEWS
The office holiday party is traditionally geared toward having fun and winding down the year. Some companies may sponsor a gift exchange or use the opportunity to hand out bonus checks.

The folks at Briody Enterprises Inc., a residential and commercial development and construction company in Genoa, have adopted a slightly different approach.

While the Briody Christmas party shows appreciation for the many subcontractors and vendors they work with throughout the year, it also has become an opportunity to give back to the community.

For the past three years, the party has netted gains to benefit the Genoa-Kingston Food Pantry. On Feb. 19, Briody's operations manager, Jo-Anne Lovro, presented food pantry Director Shari Hanson with a check for $2,900.
The businesses that work with Briody have made it a tradition to donate gift items for raffling at the Christmas party. Past gifts have included portable stereos, tools, area rugs and more. The first year they brought in more than $300 for the food pantry, but the Briody staff decided to make it more interesting.

They asked Briody Enterprises' president and CEO, Mark Suchy, to match any amount raised at the party, which has grown to include games, a silent auction and more chances to win donated items. One game has the ladies racing to hammer a nail with the heel of their shoe or tightening a screw with a butter knife.

"Everybody walks out with something," said Lovro of the party-goers, who this year helped to raise $1,450, which Suchy then matched. She is quick to give credit to the many organizations and companies who add to the party's success.

Hanson said this is the pantry's "one and only big donation" for the year, and it will be needed very soon. Though it was collected during the holidays, she commented that it likely will be gone long before the next holiday season.

"This is the big one. It's going to keep us going for a while," Hanson said. "It's very costly to keep our shelves stocked when we are not getting donations."

Hanson reported that donations are great around holiday time but start to slow around March and April and stay slow throughout the summer. This latest gift will keep the shelves stocked "month after month after month."

The food pantry is at Faith United Methodist Church in Genoa. For more information, call the church office at (815) 784-5143.

Briody Enterprises
Senior Enclave of Riverbend
11/28/06

The Riverbend Subdivision is a versatile community with lifestyles and housing for everyone - people of all ages. The proximity to the Russell Woods Forest Preserve and future bike/walking paths lend itself to promoting good health as well as fun.

Included in the Riverbend Subdivision is the Senior Enclave of Genoa, a 55+ Active Adults Community featuring ranch style homes built as single units, duplexes or triplexes. All units include 2-3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, a Full Basement, 9' First Floor Walls, 90% Energy Efficiency Furnace and Central Air Conditioning, 30 Year Architectural Dimensional Shingles and all Kitchen Appliances. Construction on the Community Center will start in the future, a 5,000-6,000 square foot building offering use for the Enclave residents of a Meeting Room with a Kitchenette, Exercise Room, Hot Tub, Billiard Room, Craft Room, and more.

For more than 20 years Briody Enterprises has been affording excellence in value, craftsmanship, efficient design, development and construction of homes. Briody Enterprises is a well rounded builder incorporating semi-custom and custom capabilities. Practicing a home building quality philosophy of "One Step Above," their homes are built using Briody common standards that exceed most other builders.

There are 6 Briody Homes models to view in the subdivision - Single Family, Detached Town Home, Bungalow and 3 Senior Enclave units. Briody sales offices are open 7 days a week, with the exception of holidays.

For more information call the Briody Enterprises main office at 815-784-3040.
 

Featuring the Detached Townhome
10/27/06

Are you one of those people that can’t understand the concept of a "Detached Townhome"?

When people see or hear that description in Briody Homes advertising and marketing about our beautiful Detached Town Homes that is almost always the first question they ask. . . how can a Town Home be detached?

Well Briody town homes ARE detached and they are grrrrreat! Not only are these homes "tops" in functionality and privacy with no adjoining wall to your neighbor, but they are very stylish too. Featuring 2 or 3 bedrooms and each providing 2 1/2 baths, the spaciousness is awesome. The basement is clear span - meaning there are no support posts to have to deal with if you decide to finish your basement for extra living space.

Other standard features offered with Briody Town Homes are eat-in kitchen, Dining room, 2 covered porches and a 2 car finished garage with garage door opener. Briody Town Homes are constructed with Energy Edge Construction, meaning 2x6 exterior wall construction, R-19 insulation with vapor barrier, R-38 insulation in the ceiling, 1/2" OSB structural wall sheathing with full house wrap and a 90% efficient furnace.

If you haven't toured our Town Home model yet, put it on your short list to do soon. . . you won’t be sorry! There will only be 45 of these homes built - they are very popular and going fast!

Please contact either of our sales offices, which are open daily from 10-6, with questions at 815-784-9955 or 815-784-2806.

 

KishHealth opens Genoa facility
6/1/06
KishHealth System has announced the opening of KishHealth Family and Specialty Care, at 599 Pearson Drive, Genoa. Physical therapy and massage therapy services are provided by Unlimited Performance Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, a department of Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Dr. Karen Federici, a family practice and obstetrics physician, will begin serving the Genoa area there full time in September. It also is a satellite site for Kishwaukee Community Hospital’s Unlimited Performance Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. Unlimited Performance’s main facility is in Sycamore. A second satellite facility is located in Hampshire. In addition, the KCH diabetes education team will be bringing services there. A free presentation on diabetes management will be Tuesday, June 13, 6-7 p.m. No registration necessary. Appointments for diabetes education available in August. For information, call the KCH Diabetes Education Center, (815) 748-8378. Classes and screenings also will be held at the Genoa facility. Adult programs include vision screening by Hauser-Ross Eye Institute and Surgicenter, the AARP Driver Safety Class, Hot Flashes and other Joys of Menopause, Managing your Stress, and Cholesterol Express. Programs for adolescents include Your Changing Body: For Girls Only; Full of Ourselves, Safe Sitter, CPR for Teens, and First Aid, the Kid Way. Classes and screenings are featured in the quarterly KCH Wellness Calendar mailing and also at www.kishhospital.org. To register for a program or to be placed on the mailing list, call the community education coordinator at (815) 756-1521, x4000 or email jjaskula@kishhospital.org . To make appointments for physical therapy and massage therapy, call (815) 784-2100. Massage gift certificates also are available.

KishHealth Family & Specialty Care is located off IL 23 in Genoa. It is behind The National Bank and Trust Co. in Prairie Ridge Pointe Commercial Center, developed by Briody Enterprises, Inc.